Automatic toothpaste dispenser



June 3, 1958 H.- M. LA zEBNlK AUTOMATIC TooTHPAsTE DISPENSER Filed April 12. 1956 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

HerberMLaZebnzlk Y p/glep ATTO RNE-Y June 3, 1958 H. M. LA zEBNlK AUTOMATIC TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April l2, 1956 ATTORNEY June 3, 1958 H. M.'| A zEBNlK 2,837,243

AUTOMATIC TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER I4 Si l5 INVENTOR. 59 Z 35 HerberMlakbmk ATTORNEY June 3, 1958 H. M. LA zEBNlK AUTOMATIC TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 12, 1956 INVENTOR. j'fer'bel'MLaZenik BY WQW ATTORNEY.

June 3, 1958 H. M. LA ZEBNIKl 2,837,243

AUTOMATIC TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 12, 1956 ATTORNEY United States. .Patent "ice 2,831,243' AUTlWATIC TOOTHPASVTE DISPENSER Herbert M. La Zebnik, Jackson, Mich.y Application April 12, 1956, Serial No. 577,837y 2 Claims. (Cl. IIL-101)l The present invention relates to 'an automaticv toothpaste dispenser and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements ofkparts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided an automatic toothpaste dispenserwhich consists of a casing which may be attached to a wall or the like land into which may be inserted the brush portion of a toothbrush. The casing contains certain mechanism which is actuated by such insertion and removal of the toothbrush to automatically apply thereto a modicumvof toothpaste in the proper position upon the brush, meantime uncovering the dispensing end of a tube of toothpaste, cutting off at the proper time a proper amount of dispensed toothpaste and thereafter automatically sealing the dispensing end of the tube. Such action of inserting and removing the brush from the casing also causes automatic mechanism to effectuate a attening of the closed end of the tube to thereby squeeze therefrom the'aforesaid proper amount of toothpaste during the time that the dispensing endof such tube is uncovered. The device contains many novel features.

p It is accordinglyan object of the invention to provide a toothpaste dispenser which is entirely automatic in its operation. v

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel automatically actuated means for applying pressure to a toothpaste tube.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel severing means for an extruded portion of toothpaste from its connection with toothpaste remaining in the interior of 'a toothpaste tube. Y

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel lmeans for sealing and unsealing the dispensing end of a toothpaste tube in a device ofthe character set forth.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following speciiication taken in conjuction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the device shown in Figure l with a portion of the cover thereof removed to illustrate the interior mechanism,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure2,

Figure 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2 and illustrating certain parts thereof in their normal position,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing certainparts in distended position,

. `Figure 7 is a view similar to Figures showinga still 5 and 6 but Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 2,

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 2,

Figure l0 is a view similar to Figure 8 but somewhat enlarged and broken away to give greater detail,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, somewhat enlarged, taken along line 11-11 of `Figure 8,

Figure l2 is an enlarged sectional view, partly broken 0 away, taken substantially along line 12-12 of Figure v 13 and side walls 14. Affixed to Figure 13 vis an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 13--13 of Figure 10,

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 14-14 of Figure l0,

Figure 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 15-15 of Figure l0,

Figure 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 16--16 of Figure 2, and Y Figures 17 to 20, inclusive, are enlarged perspective views illustrating certain details of construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a device of the character set forth comprising a removable cover generally indicated at 10 and comprising a front wall 11, a top wall 12, a bottom wall one of the side walls 14 is a pair of clips 15 each adapted to removably hold therein a toothbrush 16. In the lower portion of the front wall 11 there is provided an opening 17. Centrally mounted upon the underside of the top wall 12 is a i forwardly and rearwardly extending tracltway 18.

further position .such parts may, assume,

A frame is generally indicated at 19 (see, for example, Figures 4-and l0) and comprises Aa pair of side walls 20 and 21, a top wall 22 and a rear wall 23. A horizontally extending base plate 24 interconnects the side walls 20 and 21 in spaced relation to the lower ends thereof. The rear wall 23 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced centrally located openings 25 for the reception of screws 26 or the like whereby the frame 29 may be fastened to la wall 27 or the like.

A forwardly and rearwardly extending guide arm is centrally mounted atop the member 22 and is adapted to slidably engage within the trackway 18, as shown, for example, in Figure 2.

A pair of inwardly extending abutments 29 is affixed to the inner faces of the sid-e walls 14 of the cover 10 and act to limit the inward movement of the cover 10 with respect to the frame 19.

A press plate 3d is mounted in the frame 19 in forwardly spaced parallel relation to the wall 23 thereof. A plurality of compression springs 31 and the wall 23 act to urge the press plate 30 forwardly in the frame 19. A detent 32 extends downwardly from the wall 22 and a pair of detents 33 extend upwardly from the plate 24, as indicated in Figure 2, to limit the forward movement of the press platev 30.

The press plate 30 is provided with a pair of openings 34 which register with the openings 2S to thereby permit access to the screws 26 therethrough, likewise as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

A fitting 35 extends centrally and vertically through the base plate 24 and is provided with a longitudinal opening 36 which extends upwardly therethrough to communicate with an internally threaded recess 37 in the upper end thereof. Immediately below the base plate 24, the fitting 35 is provided with an annular groove 38.

A latch 39 is pivotally mounted, as indicated at 40, to the underside of the plate 24 and is provided atits free end with an operating handle 41. The latch 39 is provided with a curved opening 42 in the rear face thereof whereby the same may encompass a portion of the fitting 35,.it being apparent that the marginal edge portions of the opening 42 may be received within the groove 38 for this purpose.

The wall 2t) is centrally provided with a vertically extending longitudinal slot which extends from a point adjacent the top 22 to a point adjacent the base plate 24. The slot is designated at 44. The wall `21 is provided with an identical slot 45.

A transversely extending gripping roller i6 is longitudinally grooved on its outer periphery, as indicated at 37 and is provided with an axle 1S the ends of which extend through the grooves 44 and 45.

Aixed respectively to the inner faces of the rear portions of the walls 20 and 21 is a pair of vertically extending racks 49 and Sti which are enmeshed with gears 51 and 52, respectively, which are formed integrally with opposite ends of the rol-ler 46. l

Mounted adjacent the forward portion of the inner wall 20 is an actuating rack 53 which extends vertically in generally parallel relation to the slot 44. Mounted upon the wall 20 immediately inwardly of the rack 53 is a holding rack 54 which likewise extends vertically in parallel relation to theA slot 44. Both racks 53 and 54 are provided with teeth 55 and 56, respectively, at their rearward edges. The teeth Sv and 56 are engageable with a ratchet wheel 57 formed integrally with the roller 46 outwardly of the gear wheel 51 and separated from the gear wheel 51 by a collar 53.

Adjacent its upper end, the rack 53 is provided with a rectangular opening 59 through which extends a bolt or the like indicated at 6i) which bolt 60 is aixed to the wall 29. Substantially centrally of its length, the rack 53 has affixed thereto anoutwardly extending pin 61 which extends through a substantially rectangular opening 62 in the wall 20. A spring 63 is aixed to the outer face of the wall 20 by screws 6d or the like and has its free end extending slidably through the pin 61, as indicated at 65 in Figure l2. Adjacent the lower end of the rack 53 there is provided a rectangular opening 66 through which extends a screw 67 or the like which latter is fastened to the wall 20, as indicated in Figure 8, for example.

An arm 69 extends through the base plate 24 and integrally interconnects the lower end ot the rack 53 with an actuating plate 70 positioned against the inner face or" the wall 20.

The rack 54 is provided adjacent its upper end with a transverse slot 71 through which the bolt 60 extends and, adjacent its lower end with a like slot 72 through which the bolt 67 extends. A plate 73 is ahxed substantially centrally to the inner face of the rack 54 and is provided at its inner end with an outwardly extending pin 74 which extends through a slot 75 formed in the rack 53 and a slot 76 formed in the wall 20.

A spring 77 is afiixed by means of screws 78 or the like to the wall 20 and is provided with an inturncd free end 79 which extends through a slot 80 in the wall 20 and through an opening 31 in the outer end of the plate 73.

A forwardly and rearwardly extending horizontal trackway 82 is held in position in the lower part of the frame 19 by means of a pair of rear arms S3 and a pair of forward arms 84. The traclrway 82 is centrally provided with a forwardly and rearwardly extending slot 85 in which is slidably mounted an abutment S6 having at the rear of its underside a pair of outstanding arms 87 withwhich is connected a pair of tension springs S3, the forward ends of which are affixed to the forward end of the trackway 82, as clearly indicated in Figure 9.l

The rearmost portion of the trackway S2 is provided with a backing block 89 for limiting the rearward movement of the sliding abutment 86 as shown, for example, in Figure 7.

A transverse shaft 90 is revolubly mounted in the lower ends and substantially centrally of the walls 2t) and 21 and has affixed` thereto legs 91 and 92 of a U-shaped bracket having an elongated bight portion 93. An arcuate arm 94 is centrally aliixed'to the bight portion 93 and extends outwardly therefrom to connect with a link 95 which, in turn, connects with a dog 96 centrally dependent from the forward portion of the element 86 as shown, for example, in Figure 17.

The plate 70 is provided with an inwardly extending pin 97 which engages in an arcuate slot 98 formed in the leg 91 and which is eccentric to the shaft 90.

An inverted U-shaped ribbon cutter andseal is provided with va bight portion 99 centrally provided with an opening 100 through which extends a seal 101 preferf ably formed of rubber and of generally semispherical shape. The seal 101 is carried at the outer free end of a flat spring 102 aixed by rivets 103 or the like to the underface of the bight portion 99. The bight portion 99 is enlarged centrally, as indicated at 104, and provided with an opening 105 leaving a forward transversely extending wire-like cutter member 106, all as clearly illustrated in Figure 18.

The bight portion 99 is provided with legs 107 and 10S provided respectively with rearward extensions 109 and 110, the latter being interconnected by a transverse stop member 111 which is adapted to normally rest against the outer sideor adjacent to the link 95 as shown, for example, in Figure 5.

The legs 107 and 108 are provided with openings 112 whereby the same may pivot upon studs 113 mounted in the walls 20 and 21. A tension spring 114 interconnects the bight member 99 with an ear 115 alhxed to the rear face of one of the arms 84 as shown in Figures 5 to 7, inclusive.

Extending inwardly from the leg 108 is a pin 115a. Ah'ixed to the bight member 93 in inwardly spaced relation to the leg 92 is an arcuate arm 116 to the free end of which is pivoted, as indicated at 117, a cam 118 which is normally urged outwardly by a compression spring 119 connecting the same with the arm 116. A bracket 120 is affixed to the arm 116 and terminates at movement of the cam 118. A holding arm 122 is atiixed to the outer side or' the free end portion of the arm 116.

In operation, it will be apparent that the frame 19 may be mounted upon a wall 27 or the like by inserting screws or other fasteners through the openings 34 and then through the openings 25 to securely fasten the frame 19 `thereto after which the cover 10 may be placed thereon by inserting the member 2S into the trackway 18. The members 29 will act to properly align the cover 1t) upon the remainder of the device. Prior to this operation, however, a tube 125 of toothpaste to be dispensed by the device may be mounted in the frame 19. This is accomplished by first removing the fitting 35' from the base plate 24. In order to accomplish this, it is only necessary to remove the handle 41 outwardly thus unlocking the arm 39 from the tittin. The fitting may then be screwed upon the conventional threaded end of the tube 12S. The opposite end of the tube 125 may then be inserted between the roller 46 and the plate 30 4, `for example. The fitting 35 is then re-locked by means of the handle 41 in its position in the base plate 24. When the cover 10 is replaced in the manner above specilied, the device is then ready for operation.

When it is desired to dispense a modicum of toothpaste upon the bristles lof a toothbrush 16, it is only necessary to insert the bristle-bearing portion of the brush 16 through the opening 17 in the cover 10 at the same time forcing the free end of the brush inwardly against the abutment 86 thus moving the latter rearwardly along the trackway 85 until it comes into contact with the member 89. Duringy this portion of the operation, it will be apparent that the legs 91 and 92 will move in a clockwise direction as viewed, for example, in Figure 17 thus causingthe arm 116 and the mechanisms carried thereby to clockwise direction. When this occurs, the cam 118 will come into contact with the pin 115a thus causing the arms 107 and 108 and the mechanisms carried thereby to likewise move in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 18, for example. Since the mechanisms shown in Figure 17 and in Figure 18 are upon different pivotal points, it will be apparent that toward the extreme clockwise movement of the cam 118, the forward end of the cam 118 may no longer bear against the pin 115a which thereafter will ride beneath the cam 118 and, when this occurs, the spring 1.14'will cause an immediate counterclockwise movement of the mechanism shown in Figure 18.

Now, during the movements just above described, by means later to be described, a ribbon of dental cream will have been forced through the opening 36 in the fitting 35 to lie upon the bristles parent that the seal 101 has been removed from the bottom of the fitting 35 during the clockwise movement of the bight member 99. lt will also be apparent that when the mechanism shown in Figure 18 is released as above described the spring 114 will first permit movement izn a counterclockwise direction of the bight member 99 to a point where the detent 122 restrains further movement due to the pin 115a abutting thereagainst. As soon, however, as the toothbrush 16 begins its outward movement out of the opening 17, and again due to the different radii of the devices shown in Figures 17 and 18, the pin 115a will ride over the detent 122 whereupon the spring 114 will cause the device shown in Figure 18 to violently complete its return or counterclockwise movement. This brings likewise move in the same the cutter member 106 quickly across the lower portion the ribbon of toothof the fitting 35 thereby severing paste which had been forced through the opening 36 and again bringing the seal 101 into position at the lower end of the opening 36 thereby sealing the contents of the tube 125 plus that portion thereof remaining in the bore or opening 36.

Referring now for the means for forcing the contents of the tube 125 through the fitting 35 as above referred to, it will be apparent that as the abutment 86 is forced inwardly by the toothbrush 16 that the pin 97 carried by the plate 70 will be forced to take the eccentric path of the arcuate slot 98. This causes a rearward and downward movement of the arm 69 and the actuating rack 53. Such movement of the rack 53 causes the same to engage with the ratchet wheel 46 thus causing the latter to move downwardly while nevertheless remaining in engagement with the fixed racks 49 and 50 through the medium of the gear wheels 51 and 52 and thus causing a rolling and squeezing action upon the upper end of the paste tube 125 during the inward movement of the toothbrush and the abutment 86. Upon the outward movement of the abutment 86 due to the withdrawal of the brush 16, the above described movements of the rack 53 will, of course, be reversed and the teeth of the rack 53 will be moved out of contact with the ratchet wheel 46 due to the action of the spring 63 and pin 61 which normally force the rack 53 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 46. However, during this withdrawal of the toothbrush as aforesaid, the roller 46 is prevented from returning upwardly upon the fixed racks 49 and 50 due to the holding action of the rack 54 which is normally held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 46 due to the action of the spring 77 and its allied mechanisms which force the teeth of the of the toothbrush 16, it being app rack 54 always to remain in bearing engagement with the ratchet wheel 46. Due to the fact that the teeth of the ratchet wheel are directed in an outward clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 10, for example, and to the further fact that the teeth of the rack 53 are directed outwardly and downwardly, as viewed in the same figure, upon the outward movement of the brush 16, and the return of the rack 53 to its normal position, there will be no accidental engagement between the teeth of the rack 53 and the ratchet wheel 46 thus ensuring a mechanical squeezing of the tube only upon the inward thrust of the brush 16 against the abutment 86.

Thus it will be seen that upon a single inward and outward movement of the brush 16 through the opening 17 and against the abutment 86 as aforesaid, there will be an unsealing of the fitting 35, a forcing therethrough upon the bristles of the brush 16 a specified length of ribbon of toothpaste, a cutting off of the ribbon thus force-d through the itting and a resealing of the bottom end of the fitting while at the same time an automatic squeezing of the tube and resetting of the mechanism, it being further apparent that only the inward and outward movement of the brush 16 through the opening 17 is necessary to automatically cause all of the above described movements.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, a frame including side walls, a rear wall and a base plate, means for mounting a collapsible tube in said frame, said tube having a closed end portion and a neck portion, and means for dispensing predetermined amounts of the contents of said tube, said last-named means comprising a vertically extending press plate yieldably mounted on the forward side of said rear wall, a gripping roller transversely mounted in said walls and adapted to forcibly hold the closed end portion of said tube against said press plate, a fitting removably mounted in said base plate and having an interiorly threaded recess in its upper end adapted to receive the neck portion of said tube, a pair of Vertical fixed racks engaged with the rearward side of said roller, an actuating rack engaged with the forward side of said roller, and a holding rack engaged with the forward side of said roller, both said holding rack and said actuating rack being normally spring-urged into contact with said roller, said roller being provided with an integrally formed ratchet wheel for receiving said holding and actuating racks, and said roller being provided with a pair of integrally formed gear wheels each enmeshed with one of said xed racks.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said side walls are each provided with a longitudinally extending Vertical slot and wherein an axle extends from each end of said roller and is slidably received in one of said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,695,599 Merzoin Dec. 18, 1928 1,869,685 Gusdorf Aug. 2, 1932 2,064,357 Ritterbusch Dec. 15, 1936 2,537,008 Abbott Ian. 9, 1951 2,570,755 Booth Oct. 9, 1951 

